THE first great Rangers keeper of the modern era played in 296 games - keeping 109 clean sheets - and had what was then the unusual habit of making sure he turned out with a new pair of white laces in his boots for every one of his matches.

For six years - between August 10 1946 and April 16 1952 - he never missed a League game, playing in an astonishing run of 179 matches.

Tall, blond and agile, Brown was the last line in a famous Rangers defence which became known as the Iron Curtain which also featured George Young, Jock Shaw, Ian McColl, Willie Woodburn and Sammy Cox.

He played as a part-timer throughout his Ibrox career, combining football with life as a schoolmaster.

Brown was to win three Championships (1946-47, 1948-49 and 1949-50), three Scottish Cups in a row (1-0 in a replay against Morton in 1948, 4-1 against Clyde in 1949 and 3-0 over East Fife in 1950) and two League Cups (4-0 against Aberdeen in 1946-47 and 2-0 over Raith Rovers in 1948-49).

He was also ever-present during the historic 1948-49 season when Rangers became the first team to win the Treble.

In 1947, he won the first of his three full Scottish caps, making his debut against Northern Ireland at Windsor Park.

In May 1956 he was transferred to Falkirk for £2,200 but within a year he had retired and later became manager of St Johnstone, guiding them into the top division.